> At 03:30 PM 1/14/99 -0800, Robin wrote:> >> >The related thing that most strikes me is the unfortunate> >lack of paper-length contributions on the topics which> >frequently appear on this list.>> Good points, Robin. And, if you don't mind, I'll take that as a cue for> this...>> I recently completed a draft of a paper that I'm going to send to philosophy> journals. I want to get it off ASAP, but I'd appreciate feedback before doing> so. The topic is definitely of extropian interest (see abstract below). I> would> prefer offer to read from those list members who are familiar with the> style of> philosophy journal articles (or academic articles in any subject area).>> Please let me know if you would like to see a copy of my draft.>> Here's the abstract:>> ----------------------------------------------------> TESTING THE SPECIES CONCEPT:> Technology's Impact on the Evolutionary Classification of Humanity's> Descendents>> Max More, Ph.D.> max@maxmore.com>> Abstract> The species concept is central to modern evolutionary biology. Most biologists> and philosophers of biology have decisively settled on the particular concept> of a species as a protected gene pool. While borderline cases do arise in> applying the concept, mostly it has worked well for the biological world up> until now. This paper examines how well the biological species concept can> handle some possible future developments among Homo sapiens. These changes,> being driven by the interface of biology and technology, raise boundary> problems unprecedented in evolutionary history. I argue that the current> species concept can handle some of these possibilities, but runs into serious> difficulties in classifying the results of imaginable technological> modifications of the human species. The paper suggests a range of responses to> extend or supplement the protected gene pool species concept.> ---------------------------------------------------->> --------------------------------------------------------------------------> Max More, Ph.D.> <max@maxmore.com> or <more@extropy.org>>> http://www.maxmore.com> Philosophical issues of technology> President, Extropy Institute:> exi-info@extropy.org, http://www.extropy.org> --------------------------------------------------------------------------